Abbott urges civility after lawmaker's Muslim remarks

Associated Press

Published 11:25 am, Friday, January 30, 2015

Photo: Jay Janner

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Amina Hassan, left, 11, of Grand Prairie, and Ayefa Klair, 10 of Irving, are faced with anti-Muslim protesters at the Texas Muslim Capitol Day in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015. Hundreds of Muslims from around Texas gathered for the Council on American-Islamic Relations rally and to talk to their representatives about legislation that's important to them. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner) AUSTIN CHRONICLE OUT, COMMUNITY IMPACT OUT, INTERNET AND TV MUST CREDIT PHOTOGRAPHER AND STATESMAN.COM, MAGS OUT less

Amina Hassan, left, 11, of Grand Prairie, and Ayefa Klair, 10 of Irving, are faced with anti-Muslim protesters at the Texas Muslim Capitol Day in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015. Hundreds of Muslims ... more

Photo: Jay Janner

Abbott urges civility after lawmaker's Muslim remarks

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AUSTIN — Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that "we must have civil discourse" after a freshman Texas lawmaker instructed her staff to ask Muslims who were visiting the state Capitol to declare their allegiance to America.

Abbott did not specifically mention Republican state Rep. Molly White, who drew criticism Thursday after she put an Israeli flag in her Capitol office and telling aides they should ask Muslims to renounce Islamic terrorist groups.

White publicized her plans on Facebook before hundreds of Muslims arrived at the Capitol for their biennial lobbying day, but she was not in the building on Thursday.

"We must have civil, open debate of hotly contested issues in this state. Texas values are strong enough that we can have a civil discourse about issues like this," Abbott said.

Ten days into office, Abbott met with reporters after speaking at a Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention in Austin. He received a raucous and warm welcome from veterans to end a sometimes rocky week for Texas Republicans over missteps of their own doing.

The Muslim rally at the Capitol on Thursday coincided with a meeting between supporters of open-carry gun laws and aides to new Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The powerful Senate leader surprised conservatives this week when he said there may not be the votes to legalize open carry in Texas, an issue that many Republicans believed was a slam-dunk this session.

The Muslim rally attracted a small but vocal group of protesters, and organizers with the Council on American-Islamic relations said it was the first time the decade-old event drew opposition.

White told supporters on Facebook about the Israeli flag and instructions she left for her staff if Muslims stopped by.

"We will see how long they stay in my office," White posted.

Republican House Speaker Joe Straus sharply rebuked White without using her name. He said in a statement that legislators have a responsibility to treat visitors with "dignity and respect" and that anything else "reflects poorly" on his 150-member chamber.